Recovery Stories: How 4 Celebrities Overcame Substance Abuse and Are Now Inspiring Others

He recalls a pivotal moment in his life when he was so drunk, he couldn’t pick up the phone when his mother called to tell him his grandfather https://ecosoberhouse.com/ was dying. It was then, after carrying around the business card of a drug and alcohol counselor for more than a year, that he made the call.

Barrymore is committed to being a very emotionally available mom who puts her kids first. A history of substance use and reports years of sobriety, beginning at the age of 29. When he was using drugs and alcohol, his personal life deteriorated. In one account, he ended up landing in the hospital after intentionally smashing his head on concrete during a party. Betty Ford, the wife of former President Gerald Ford, suffered from alcoholism and addiction to painkillers. She raised public awareness of addiction by confessing to her long-time battle with alcoholism in the 1970s. When she finally recovered, she established the Betty Ford Center to help others overcome substance and alcohol abuse.

Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder or Substance Use Disorder at Renaissance Recovery Center

The actor discussed his sobriety in his GQ cover story back in 2013, explaining that at the age of 29 he felt “if I continued it, I was really going to sabotage my whole life.” An actor best known for his roles in The West Wing and Parks and Recreation, Rob Lowe has been open about his struggles with addiction. A successful pop singer, Demi Lovato has sold over 100 million records. She’s also been open about her struggles with addiction, which began in 2010. After getting sober in 2018, Lovato has remained so ever since.

Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Writers In Treatment’s Experience, Strength and Hope Award for her advocacy work for people in recovery. In a feature for GQ called “Creating While Clean,” Tyler said he’s on his “fourth run” of sobriety. Delaney lost his two-year-old son Henry in 2018 and credited his sobriety with helping him experience grief. In an interview with People in 2018, Curtis revealed that she became addicted to opioids for 10 years following minor plastic surgery in 1989.

A Short List of Celebrity Alcohol Abuse

He discussed his battle and in an interview with Billboard, he even stated he had an ulcer as a result. He got help and used running as a tool to get back in shape and redirect his compulsion. He is now healthy and in April of 2018, he celebrated 10 years of sobriety thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous, a moment he shared with his fans on social media. Addiction is a disease that can happen to anyone, at any time in their lives. It comes into play both during the highs and lows of life. No one ever intentionally becomes addicted to a substance. In many cases, it can be a result of prolonged use of prescription medication that spiraled out of control, or it could be the result of peer pressure or trying to be part of a crowd.

She eventually experienced an epiphany of God’s love for her regardless of her actions. In addition, she was deeply affected by the decline of Whitney Houston and realized that this was the power of addiction.

What is the Most Common Drug Addiction Among Celebrities?

She is passionate about sharing her recovery story with the world, hoping to reach at least one other, addicted person who may be feeling helpless and alone. Curtis also works with anti-drug organizations to raise awareness about the opiate epidemic, prevention, and addiction treatment efforts. After a brief relapse, Dax Shepard is back to being sober. Shepard has been candid about his past experiences with substance abuse, and he was open and honest about his relapse. Before the relapse, the actor recently celebrated 14 years sober and admitted to once being enamored with cocaine and alcohol.

Addiction and female celebrities have long been in the news. However, they also have to be on a movie set for 12 + hours in a day. They have to look and stay beautiful in front of the world. They can’t make little mistakes because they won’t go unnoticed.

Everyone is Unique. And So is Their Recovery Journey.

She never learned to say “no” to a drink, despite the disease of addiction running in her family. As a young adult, she began to consume alcohol nightly, often alone, in efforts to numb the traumas of her childhood.

He began using drugs as a child actor, and quickly became addicted as a teen. He would use just about any drugs including heroin and cocaine. He was arrested several times for a variety of possession charges and other crimes fueled by addiction. Eventually, he was able to seek treatment that actually worked and he picked up the pieces of his career and made a magnificent comeback. Today, he is one of the most respected names in Hollywood and is an A-list celebrity known for his role as Iron Man. The experiences of celebrities in recovery demonstrate that even those who achieve fame and fortune are not immune to drugs and alcohol.

Recommitting to sobriety, Macklemore remains substance-free, and he continues to champion the recovery movement. Macklemore writes and performs music that’s acutely socially-aware, but that’s not all he is known for. The artist is also a strong supporter of those in recovery after grappling with substance abuse since his teens. An unfortunate New York City bar fight – before which Radcliffe was seen drinking heavily – ended his first two year stint of sobriety. The actor and producer states that alcohol addiction is “the most ordinary thing” in Hollywood.

• Robert Downey Jr.’s rise to fame, and then epic fall from grace as a result of drugs and alcohol is a Hollywood legend.
• He has enjoyed much success throughout his career, but even he fell victim to addiction and even overdosed on prescription pills in 2007.
• In an interview with GQ UK in 2012, Lana Del Rey opened up about her struggles with alcohol and drugs as a teen.
• You need to be honest with yourself and others to stay sober.
• By far, alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the U.S. – and celebrities are no exception.
• She would smuggle it onto airplanes, into bathrooms, and throughout the night while staying in a sober living home.

You have probably seen the likes of Lindsay Lohan call her parents out while she was under the influence. It is often necessary to stand beside a family member even if they are angry and making terrible mistakes. There is plenty of help for both families of addicts and for the addicts themselves. Sometimes it’s up to loved ones to help out their loved one in their life. Family members are often the only ones who can get through to their famous sibling, daughter, or wife.

But Demi Lovato’s rise to fame didn’t come without its challenges. The actress-musician battled depression, an eating disorder, and drug addiction before she turned 18 years old. Demi Lovato experienced a highly publicized drug overdose in July 2018. The celebrities who died of alcoholism singer entered treatment following the event and has begun to share her experiences with the public. An advocate for fighting stigmas about mental health and addiction, Lovato has shared her experiences and how she has overcome challenges in her journey.